Celebrating second chances: The Transplant Games of America

While the world has been glued to the London Olympics, another set of games with equally inspiring athletes took place on U.S. soil - The Transplant Games of America.

Sponsored by nonprofit health care system Spectrum Health, the event took place in Grand Rapids, Mich. from July 28 through 31 and included 1,200 transplant recipients in 46 states who participated in over a dozen events including swimming, volleyball, track and field and tennis. The games are meant to call attention to the critical organ shortage in the U.S., where 112,000 people are on a waiting list, and to celebrate the achievements of those fortunate enough to be in good health following a transplant. The event brought thousands of athletes, donors and donor families to the Olympic-style competition.

In this image, Hayden Lafferty, 4, cheers on athletes at opening ceremonies for the 2012 Transplant Games of America.

Credit: Mary Taber Lind, Spectrum Health

Holly Miyagawa of Hermosa Beach, Calif., and Justin Fulton, Lakewood, Colo., the Outstanding Male and Female Athletes from the 2010 U.S. Transplant Games, light the torch at the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Transplant Games of America on Saturday, July 28.

Credit: Mary Taber Lind, Spectrum Health

Laura Marchlewski and her daughter, Avery Marchlewski, of Rockford, Mich., run in the 2012 Transplant Games of America 5K race on Saturday, July 28. They are two members of "Team Smigelski," a family with three who underwent heart transplants.

Credit: Mary Taber Lind, Spectrum Health

Isabel Stenzel Byrnes and Anabel Stenzel, twin sisters who both received double-lung transplants, deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Transplant Games of America. The sisters, who competed in the games as swimmers, inspired the crowd of athletes to "Live like your organ donor is watching." The twins authored The Power of Two: A Twin Triumph over Cystic Fibrosis, and were featured in a documentary on their struggle with cystic fibrosis.

Credit: Mary Taber Lind, Spectrum Health

Here is medal-winning cyclist Cadon Reynolds, 6, a kidney transplant recipient from Caledonia, Mich. on Sunday, July 29 at the 2012 Transplant Games of America. His mother Angie works for Michigan-based Spectrum Health, which sponsored the Games.

Credit: Mary Taber Lind, Spectrum Health

Heart transplant patient Rahn Bentley (L) joined Peggy Korsen (C), the widow of Bentley's donor Tim Korsen, and her son, Jason (R), at a special "Celebration of Life" reception at the 2012 Transplant Games of America. Bentley received his heart just after Thanksgiving Day 2010 and was the first heart transplant patient at Spectrum Health.

Credit: Mary Taber Lind, Spectrum Health

Liver and kidney transplant recipient John Mosley, a senior vice president at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Mich., competing in a track and field event.

Credit: Mary Taber Lind, Spectrum Health

Athletes representing Iowa enter Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. during opening ceremonies for the 2012 Transplant Games of America, presented by Spectrum Health, held July 28-31.

Credit: Mary Taber Lind, Spectrum Health

Team Kentucky athletes, donors and donor families marched in opening ceremonies for the 2012 Transplant Games of America.

Credit: Mary Taber Lind, Spectrum Health

Track and field events from the 2012 Transplant Games of America were held on the campus of Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich.

Credit: Mary Taber Lind, Spectrum Health

Athletes from around the world competed in sporting events in a dozen categories, including this competitor who played tennis at Grand Valley State University, one of the locations for the 2012 Transplant Games of America.

Credit: Mary Taber Lind, Spectrum Health

The Grand Rapids & District Pipe Band plays during the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Transplant Games of America on Saturday, July 28 at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Credit: Mary Taber Lind, Spectrum Health

Some states, such as Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, teamed up to compete at the 2012 Transplant Games of America held July 28-31 in Grand Rapids, Mich.